Pneumatic guard



Nov. 13, 1928.

Filed Feb. 17, 1928' lPatented Nov. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES DANIEL J. KENNEDY, F YONKERS, NEW YORK.

PNEUMATIC GUARD.

Application led February 17, 1928. Serial No. 255,033.

'This invention aims to provide a guard which will protect the lowerpart of the abdomen of the wearer, against injuries of all kinds, andparticularly against groin injuries and against injuries to attendantand nearby parts.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and toenhance the utility of devices of that type to which the inventionappertains.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Figure 1 shows in perspective, a device constructed in accordance withthe invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

In carrying out the invention, -there is provided a front pad 1, in theform of a triangle, the part 1 including a front wall 2 which is made ofresilient rubber, and a rear wall 3 which is made of rubberized fabric.The front wall 2 can expand and stretch. The rear wall 3 can flex intoany desired curve, but its length remains always the same. Consequently,when the front pad 1 is inflated as hereinafter described, the pad atits lower end tends to curve backwardly and upwardly, as

- shown at 4, thereby t0 conform to the shape of the body of the wearer.The rear edge of the front pad 1 isv increased in thickness, slightly,as shown at 5, so as to provide an additional cushioning and protectingeffect against crotch injuries. Partitions 6 are secured along theirrear edges to the rear wall 3 and along their front edges to the Afrontwall 2. As shown at 7, the partitions 6 do not extend entirely acrossthe front pad 1 from side to side. There is, therefore, space at the endof each partition 6 through which the air can circulate somewhat slowly:that is, if a punch is imparted to the front pad 1, air will not rushaway from the immediate place where the punch is delivered, but lwillmove somewhat slowly, and it will be impossible to `reach the body ofthe wearer by any kind of a blow that will not tear the pad to pieces.The partitions 6 not only control the circulation of air within thefront pad, but, as well, they afford reinforcement. The partitions 6`are flexible, and they may be made in any desired way. Sometimes, twolayers 8 of material are cemented together, and the edges of the la ers8 are inclined as shown in Fig-v ure.3 to orm flanges 9 whichare-cemented to the front and rear walls of the pad 1.

The device includes an inflatab-letube 10 which extends part-way aroundthe body of the wearer: perhaps to the places marked by the numeral 11in Figure 1 of the drawings. The tube 10 is connected at the front ofthe device, by a nipple 12, with the upper part of the front pad 1, sothat air can pass from the tube 10 into the front pad. Air is suppliedto the tube 11 by means of a valve 14 indicated in Figure 1 of thedrawings. The tube 10 has partitions 15, constructed as hereinbeforedescribed, in connection with the part-itions 6, the ends ofthepartitions 15 are being spaced, as shown at 16, from the top andbottom portions of the tube 10, as and for the purpose hereinbeforedescribed in connection with the partitions 6.

The circumferential tube 10 may be enclosed within a belt 17, made ofany suitable material, the ends of the belt 17 being joined by a lacingcord 18 or any other adjustable means which will answer the purpose. Thebelt portion of the device merges into a covering 1 9 for the front pad1, and the rear end of the covering 19 is connected by a strap 20 withthe rear portion of the belt 17.

The device is so constructed that it will protect the parts to whichitis applied. The device may be madeas bard or as soft as desired,depending upon the amount of inflation. It will assume the curved formshown at 4, owing to the `fact that the rear wall 3 is flexible but notelastic, whereas the front wall 2 is both flexible and elastic. Owing'to the l the front wall of the pad being made of ilexible elasticmaterial, and the rear 'wall of the pad being made of flexible inelasticmaterial, whereby when the pad is inflated, it will assume a curved formand shape itself to the body of the wearer, means for inflating the pad,and transverse partitions connecting the front Wall of the pad with therear wall of the pad, the ends of the partitions being spaced from thelateral edges of the pad to provide for a restricted shifting of airwhen the p ad is subjected to pressure.

2. In an abdominal guard, a front pad of approximately triangular shape,a belt carryi tube and the upper portion of the pad, and

partitions in both the tube and the pad, the partitions terminatingshort of the edges of the tube and short of the edges of the pad, toprovide for a restricted shifting of air Within both the tube and thepad.

In testimony that'I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aixcdmy signature.

DANIEL J. KENNEDY.

